GM Puts the Brakes
On Blue Chips

Two Strikes in New York:
Transit Workers, Investors

New York Stock Exchange employees had a challenging commute to work Tuesday because of the citywide strike. Once there, they found that buyers went on strike, too.

Stocks never gained traction despite positive data on wholesale-level inflation and housing starts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.98 points to 10805.55, anchored by a 5.7% drop in General Motors, which traded at its lowest point since 1987 after reports suggested GM could be surpassed by Toyota Motor as the world's No. 1 auto maker. The shares...